Picking the best pottery activity for your kids will depend a lot on how old they are. Some pottery techniques demand physical strength and will be hard for younger children. Some activities will demand attention and focus but wont be physically demanding.
Over the last 10 years of running a pottery studio in Sydney, we have hosted multiple kids pottery birthday parties, school holiday classes and taught kids after school courses. We have observed following common features.
Family Pottery class
Consider ceramic house making class if you would like to have your family to attend an equally fun and engaging pottery class. Everyone in this class will end up making a house, which can be picked up in a couple of weeks after we fire them.
Pottery for those below 7 years of age
The younger the kids the less attention and focus they have and they tend to skip through most steps and just finish something in the first few minutes of the class. Therefore we recommend not setting any expectations for those younger than 5-6 years of age, and just letting them play to their hearts' content.
If your kids are younger than 7 years, enrol them in pottery painting classes or classes where they can play with clay and colours and make whatever they feel like making and exercise their imagination.
Pottery for those between 7 and 12 years of age
For 7-12 years olds its easier to listen and absorb detailed instructions. Although theu still don't have enough strength in their hands to handle s spinning wheel, this age group can make handbuilt pots and sculptures. They can also paint premade pieces, decorating them with patterns and colours.
If your kids are aged between 7 and 12 you can enrol them in make and paint classes where they get to play with clay and get their hands dirty and make either pottery or figurines, and they get to paint premade pots or figurines.
Pottery for 12 years olds and older
On average the 12 years olds and older ones are capable of following fast paced and detailed instructions as well as physically strong enough to spin the wheel and handle spinning clay which feels like a rock when its spinning.
If your kids are aged 12 and older, you can enrol them into any wheel throwing pottery classes. In our studio we offer 5 weeks long after school wheel throwing classes, as well as one off school holiday wheel throwing classes that you can also consider.
